Cincinnati City Council approved a proposed parking plan Wednesday that will lease the city-owned meters, lots and garages to a private operator. In return, the city will receive a $92 million upfront payment and annual payments of at least $3 million. The term of the lease is 30 years for on-street operations and 50 years for off-street.

The suit claims a legal right to a referendum on the parking measure, and attorneys argued the city acted improperly by declaring an emergency to prevent a ballot measure.

A hearing on the lawsuit has been scheduled for March 15, and the judge's order prevents the city from implementing any parts of the parking privatization until the order expires March 20, if it's not renewed.

Councilwoman Laure Quinlivan, who held the swing vote, said she decided to support the measure to avoid the 27-percent public safety cuts recommended by City Manager Milton Dohoney if the parking plan failed.

Quinlivan said she remains concerned about the city's ability to find the right size for its police and fire departments, but she was encouraged that City Council also voted Wednesday to give Dohoney the ability to cancel a planned police recruit class to reduce spending.

Dohoney told council the lease deal is not designed to save the city's budget over the long term. The manager said there is "no silver bullet to fill the budget gap" and that council will have to find ways to piece together a solution.

"At some point, if the position of the leaders in 2017 is we want government to be at same size as it is right now, I’d then say you’re going to have to have a tax hike conversation or accept a reduction in the size of government," Dohoney told council members.

Smitherman explained his vote against the plan by comparing the plan to pawning an heirloom ring to pay three months' worth of bills.

"We are now selling off an asset that was passed down to this council, and now it's gone," Smitherman said.

Councilwoman Yvette Simpson blasted lawmakers who were unwilling to consider any plans to generate revenue suggested by Dohoney.

"We're playing a dangerous shell game when we keep saying no to all the alternatives," Simpson said. "We have to say yes to something."

Dohoney has said few options are available to fix the budget. He said health care costs would continue to spiral and the pension issue will remain a major factor.

The controversial lease plan will place operations of the city's parking meters and garages in the hands of the Port Authority, Xerox, Dennison and Guggenheim. In exchange, the city will reap a $92 million windfall, which will fill several budget holes and pay for a number of projects.

Quinlivan expressed doubts over the plan at recent council meetings. She wanted to know more about the city manager's long term plan to fix the budget deficit. The manager told council that even if the lease deal passes, the city deficit will be roughly $10 million next year and will balloon up from there.

Mayoral candidate John Cranley said that he remains a strong critic of the parking plan.

Cranely thinks a divided outcome on such a monumental issue, leasing meters for decades, is problematic and suggests the public should be allowed to have a decisive say in the matter.

Cranley says he will help with an effort to put a referendum on the November ballot.

He would need 7,500 valid signatures over the next four months to get it added to the general election.

Cranley had threatened a lawsuit if an emergency clause was attached to the measure, saying there is no emergency associated with the plan. Council voted 6-3 to attach such an emergency clause.

City Solicitor John Curp told lawmakers after the measure passed that the emergency clause was not subject to referendum, and he does not believe any court will interfere with the ordinances.

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